Incoming President of France greets crowds in the very first DS7 Crossback with special features.

• DS7 CROSSBACK is the vehicle of choice in ceremonial duties for inauguration of new French President Emmanuel Macron 
• Specially-personalised DS 7 CROSSBACK has an opening roof so the President can greet the French crowd on the Champs-Elysées
• DS has strong provenance having been the vehicle of choice on previous inauguration occasions
• French president’s inauguration DS 7 CROSSBACK vehicle is being displayed at DS World Paris

For his first journey as President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron chose to ride in the all-new DS 7 CROSSBACK, the very latest model of DS Automobiles that was revealed just two months ago. This ‘Presidential’ DS 7 CROSSBACK has been specially-personalised with an opening roof so the President can greet the French crowd on the Champs-Elysées.

The DS brand is proud that DS 7 CROSSBACK is the inauguration’s car of the new French President and that DS 7 CROSSBACK is driven for the first time in public on an official ceremony just few months before its launch. 

With this historical moment, the DS brand, whose ambition is to embody both French know-how and innovation in the automotive industry, is pursuing the tradition of being the official car manufacturer of the French presidency. DS models are emblematic and have historical provenance, having been used many times on similar symbolic occasions with the 5th Republic.

The ‘Presidential ‘ DS 7 CROSSBACK will be proudly-displayed at DS WORLD Paris, located at 33 François 1e street in Paris, soon after its ceremonial duties from Tuesday 16 May for public visitors, and ahead of that day for press/media from Monday, 15 May.

‘Presidential DS 7 CROSSBACK‘ - details in brief

• The very first DS 7 CROSSBACK on the public roads : DS engineers and craftsmen worked on this unique Presidential car, 7 months before its public launch (first deliveries start in January 2018)
• Distinguished in a sumptuous Ink Blue paint finish, it features a custom- made opening roof, French Republic signature badging and a Tricolour flag holder
• The ‘Black Art’ Leather interior (named ‘Opera Inspiration’ after a district of Paris) is revised by a French creation (‘Toile de Laque’ is tailored and created by a craftsman recognised for their expertise and know-how in the specialism of decorative gilding: Atelier Maury)
• The 20 inch wheels are personalised with finely-created golden attention-to-detail features
• Most of highly-technical features of the DS 7 CROSSBACK feature some of the new items that will become available with this vehicle: DS CONNECTED PILOT, paving the way for autonomous driving, DS ACTIVE SCAN SUSPENSION, the 21st century DS suspension system, which uses a camera to anticipate any bumps and undulations in the road surface to ensure the President and future occupants of this vehicle can enjoy a serene ride experience.

Citroën launches new SUV, for China only, hopefully it will come to Europe.

• New  C3-XR unveiled at C_42, Paris
• New Crossover to be launched in China at the end of the year
• Chinese market is a key growth area for Citroën, representing more than one in four sales for the brand

CITROËN is continuing its strategy of globalisation and asserting its position as a truly international automotive manufacturer. At the heart of this strategy is the Chinese market, which now represents more than one in four sales for the brand. It is for this important market that CITROËN has unveiled, at C_42 on the Champs Elysées, the new C3-XR, a compact SUV projecting robustness, elegance and dynamism.

Citroën is further accelerating its policy of developing sales in overseas markets and consolidating its status as a global brand. In recent months, this global approach has taken on a new dimension with sales worldwide up 7% in the first half of 2014, above the growth in the market (+4%).

CITROËN is growing fast in China, with sales up 19% to the end of August 2014, compared to 12% for the market. This growth is supported by a rapidly expanding network of 470 dealers, which came first for service quality in the JD Power 2014 survey. The success of the products, such as C-Elysée and C4 L, demonstrates that CITROËN has been able to win recognition by offering models that are tailored, modern and able to meet the expectations of these new customers.

It is on these solid foundations that CITROËN has unveiled the C3-XR, its new model to be launched in China at the end of the year which will extend its cover of this market. This new offering embodies a resolutely modern approach to the SUV, based on CITROËN’s values: strong design, remarkable comfort inherited from CITROËN’s know-how and technology choices aimed at the well-being of users. The vehicle was presented at a symbolic location, C_42 on the Champs Elysées, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Franco-Chinese diplomatic relations and emphasise the French origins of this SUV.

The C3-XR is very close to the concept car presented at Beijing in April 2014 and is a pure product of the CITROËN centre of style, which applied all of its know-how and creativity in the conception of this SUV. Its immediately identifiable design projects robustness, elegance and dynamism. As one of CITROËN’s distinctive traits, comfort is of the highest standard, thanks to benchmark levels of interior space, a roomy and welcoming driving position, and ride comfort worthy of the best saloons. The CITROËN C3-XR also benefits from the latest innovations, making for easier use through its technological equipment – keyless entry and start, reversing camera, grip control – and its connectivity via the Citroën telematic services.

On sale in December, C3-XR will be produced at Wuhan and will be available from launch with the THP 160 S&S engine coupled with the latest generation EAT6 automatic gearbox.

C3-XR will be on show at C_42 on the Champs Elysées.

Happy 80th Birthday to the greatest Citroen of all time, the Traction Avant

• Citroën to mark 80 years of the Traction Avant during 2014
• Traction Avant first unveiled in April 1934
• A revolutionary design in its day with front-wheel-drive, from which it takes its name
• Series of events taking place to celebrate the famous Citroën’s landmark birthday

In April 1934, Citroën unveiled the 7A, a car that would go on to make motoring history with a series of innovations including front-wheel-drive or Traction Avant in French, which was a ground-breaking development in its time.

The new model revolutionised the automotive world – which consisted almost entirely of rear-wheel-drive vehicles – with its low centre of gravity, all steel monocoque body, light weight and honed aerodynamics. As a result, the front-wheel-drive Traction Avant boasted standard-setting characteristics for handling and road holding.

Citroën is celebrating 80 years of the Traction Avant in 2014 with a series of events dedicated to the famous model.

Starting off the year’s celebrations, the Paris based Retromobile show in February featured two Traction Avant 11 Familiale models, dated 1937 and 1957, which were exhibited by La Traction Universelle club, which has more than 1,400 members worldwide.

Then from March to June, a unique Traction Avant is being displayed in the My Citroën Adventure exhibition at the C_42 showcase on the Champs-Elysées in Paris. The 1955 Traction Avant Sans Frontières 11BL belongs to the Traction Sans Frontières association, which travels the world taking part in vintage vehicle rallies and events.

The 1955 Traction Avant Sans Frontières 11BL can also be seen at;

• Autodrome Heritage Festival, 7 - 8 June, at the legendary Montlhéry track on the outskirts of Paris
• Eurocitro 2014, 8 - 10 August at the Le Mans racetrack
• Exhibitions in Orléans, 20 - 21 September & Epoqu’Auto, 7 - 9 November, in Lyon
• Excursions organised by regional sections of La Traction Universelle club, such as at Roost-Warendin on 31 May - 1 June & at Ferté Vidame on 13 - 14 September – which is expected to be the biggest event of its kind this year, with almost 800 Traction Avants expected to attend.